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| [Source: via The Best MINI's @ facebook] |
MINI Cooper - A Car With Low Depreciation
The MINI Cooper car has a loyal following and offers buyers a good return on investment (ROI). Described as 'peppy,' the MINI Cooper has only experienced a 40% depreciation overall in five years. Priced just below $20,000 ($19,400) for the basic model, it has four-star rollover safety ratings and front and side airbags. Traction control is standard. The 're-introduced' MINI Cooper debuted in the U.S. in the 2002 model year. The 2002 model is still selling for around $7,000.
Chasing The Sun: MINI's South American Road Trip Takes Brazil
Kelley Blue Book Wraps Up Testing of 2012 MCS Countryman ALL4
Though it remained squeak and rattle free as well as resolutely devoid of mechanical problems, our Mini earned considerably lower marks in the areas of comfort and ride compliance. Several staffers reported that the front seats, while laudably supportive, lost a bit of their charm during multi-hour driving stints. In addition to being excessively noisy, the standard run-flat tires also exhibited a good bit of harshness on all but the best of pavement. Perhaps the biggest downside ding involved the Mini's stunningly poor overall ergonomics that remain a testament to prioritizing quirky styling sensibilities over genuine user friendliness.
Commuter duties, particularly on LA's perpetually packed Interstate 405 freeway where our Countryman ALL4 4 racked up about a third of its total distance driven, revealed another character flaw. While an autoshifted Mini may strike purists as near sacrilege, midway through the 60-plus minutes it regularly took for the staff's most remotely located road warrior to travel the last 12 miles back home each evening, the prospect became easier and easier for any sane person to justify. The situation wasn't helped by the fact that our Countryman's clutch also tended to become rather "grabby" as its usage cycle intensified.
In the final accounting, we found much to recommend in the biggest and most versatile Mini. However, the kudos also came with a number of caveats.
Here Comes The Rain Again
MINI Countryman Has The Friendliest Face
Friendliest #1: Mini Countryman: The Countryman looks like a toad that knows he/she is about to be stepped on (that's a weird analogy, I know, and I don't condone stepping on toads!). The headlights look like bewildered eyes and the grille looks like a someone gasping "oh dear!"
Come Up And SEMA Sometime
Design Your Own MINI Cooper Credit Card
2013 MINI Base Pricing
Mini Pricing
Cooper: $20,400
Cooper S: $24,000
John Cooper Works: $30,800
MINI Coupe
Cooper: $22,150
Cooper S: $25,450
John Cooper Works: $32,050
MINI Roadster
Cooper: $26,250
Cooper S: $29,250
John Cooper Works: $36,400
MINI Clubman
Cooper: $22,100
Cooper S: $25,800
John Cooper Works: $33,000
MINI Convertible
Cooper: $25,850
Cooper S: $28,850
John Cooper Works: $36,000
MINI Countryman
Cooper: $22,700
Cooper S: $26,300
Cooper S ALL4: $28,000
John Cooper Works: $35,550
MINI John Cooper Works GP
GP: $35,950
Options for these models include Sirius at a $250 increase that includes one year of service and a Premium Package at an increase of $1,250 for the Mini Hardtop and Clubman that includes a panoramic sunroof, automatic windshield wipers and climate control.
MINIs Hot In Qatar
MINI Teaches The Auto Industry
2013 MINI Paceman JCW?
. . . diffuser on the rear bumper, the chunkier bodywork, the large twin exhaust pipes and the sculpted side skirts, all of which are not found on the most powerful version of the Paceman to date, the 181hp (184PS) Cooper S model.
The vehicle contained signage as a factory test vehicle and was caught in and about Munich.
The Province Reviews The MINI Cooper S Roadster
If there's one take-away for me, it is simply this: the Cooper S Roadster is fun, lots of fun. I'm not sure I would want to live with this car all four seasons, but I'm sure that I would relish its spirited topless performance in at least three of them. When the sun shines and the roof is down, this jubilant two-seater delivers plenty of exhilarating performance. It's also more practical than typical roadsters thanks to the large trunk that isn't consumed by the retracted roof. Presumably, this is the area that once housed a rear seat, making the Mini Roadster strictly a two-seater. Maybe that's why empty nesters are attracted. Sorry, no room for the grandkids in this getaway.
License Plate Technology Defeats Traffic Cameras
X-raid MINI Team 2nd At Rally Monaco, Readies For Dakar
Here's The MSRP In The US For The MINI JCW GP2
The GP will retail for $39,950 including destination. Here’s a quick look at other key facts:
500 slotted to US market
Each dealer gets one car.
All other cars will be available via a toll free number this Friday with current GP owners getting first crack
Standard JCW wheels and run flats available for $100
Special delivery for 50-100 in early March (details TDB)
US market gets Bluetooth, auto climate control, flat load floor, standard radio and Recaros.
How do you get your hands one one? It’s a reservation line. You call MINI USA and put a deposit down via phone. That deposit is then transferred to your dealer of choice where the sale is handled.
MINI Workers To Vote On Shift Changes At Cowley Plant
Directors at parent company BMW have agreed to have Minis built at the NedCar plant at Born, near the German border. Workers are coming to Oxford in the next few weeks to be trained in Mini production, with the Born factory set to start building Minis in 2014, in time for the launch of the third generation of the car.
The move could mean more than 400,000 Minis in total being produced annually by 2018 — double the amount currently produced at Cowley.
Mini managers say Cowley will remain the car’s spiritual home and centre of production.
2012 MCS Countryman An "Unexpected Family Car"
Smaller families shouldn't discount the Countryman because it's a smaller crossover. It can fit a small stroller (if you're still using one); it can transport a reasonable amount of stuff with the backseat folded, and there's extra storage underneath the cargo area floor if you need it.
But I won't lie: The Countryman enabled us to enjoy our time in the car as a family while still feeling connected to the couple we were, pre-kid. For us, that's a magical feeling. Happy parents equal happy kids, right? Well, that's what my husband and I like to tell ourselves anyway.
Making Gasoline Out Of Thin Air
East Bay MINI's NOT NORMAL Sales Event October 28
Join us for this fun-filled test drive event where you will be able to test drive to earn a special incentive on your perfect new MINI!
We will have CASINO games from 1PM-5pm!! There will be Blackjack, Roulette and Craps tables where you can rack up chips to win sweet prizes. There will also be a food truck and drinks during the event to provide good eats for you.
We hope to see all of you there!
Please RSVP here: http://www.eastbaymini.com/NotNormalSalesEvent
Truly The Greatest R/C Car Chase Ever!
TopGear turned us on to this video in which:
. . . Filmmakers Freddie Wong and Brandon Laatsch linked up with skater Rob Dyrdek and MTV's Chris "Big Black" Boykin to create a car chase in miniature using an RC Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Nissan GT-R, Dodge Viper, Baja thing and helicopter.
Al Nejadi And Al Shamali Race In Kuwaiti Rally Championship 2013
The car charged with this task is the MINI John Cooper Works S2000. The powerful heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from MINI Motorsport, producing 275 horsepower.
Atkinson Places Sixth In Rallye Italia 2012
O.co Provides 5 Reasons To Drive The 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe
Michael Waterman writes for O.co cars, by overstock.com, an article that enumerates five reasons to drive the 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe. No. 1 reason - it's fun to drive.
Listen To Your Car
Australian Review Of The MINI Coupe
A fabulous toy made in the UK and yes, there's a soft-top Roadster version in the offing. Shop it against Toyota 86 GTS, Golf GTi, MX-5, Renault Megane RS.
MINI Yachtsman To Participate In Charles River Regatta?
Remembering The 2012 FIA WRC Monte Carlo Rally
It was a stellar rally last January in an amazing location. Check out this fantastic recap!
[Source: MrTony0113 @ YouTube]
[Source: MrTony0113 @ YouTube]
An Architectural Look At MINI Of Chicago
MINI Opens Beijing, China Dealership
MINI On Tour With Sneakerness 2012
Meet MINI fan, sneaker store owner and shoe collector Wali Wasiri as he heads to Sneakerness in search of the latest trends amongst footwear fanatics.
[Source: MINI YOUTUBE CHANNEL]
2012 MINI S Coupe "Puts A Smile On Folk's Faces"
The MINI Cooper S Coupe is a performer in the hot-hatch category, although its looks require a change of thought about what a MINI ought to be.
Side Of A MINI On The Side Of The Road
With "go-kart" handling it is important that the driver know how to handle a go-kart!
[Source: boddahdidit @ YouTube]
[Source: boddahdidit @ YouTube]
Fixing A MINI Head Core Plug Problem
According to the video a customer brought to Costa Mesa R&D Automotive Machine a 2011 MINI head cylinder:
[Source: fiatnutz @ YouTube]
. . . the core plug in the middle of the head popped out. Our client brought a factory replacement plug in to replace the one the came out. To our surprise the new plug dropped into the hole making it unuseable. A quick trip to the lathe with a piece of aluminum and we had one that would fit with the proper amount of press-fit. . . . .
[Source: fiatnutz @ YouTube]
Team MINI Portugal Prepares For Rally Italia Sardegna
MINI Roadster Review From MailOnline
It's fast and it's fun, it's not very practical. But the Mini Roadster does handle like a go-kart.
Autoweek's Review Notes On The 2012 MCS Coupe
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Don't get the Mini Coupe unless you're a true enthusiast of this brand. This isn't a mainstream car. The chassis will beat the snot out of you, which is fine for hard-core drivers, but not livable for most. I could drive and enjoy this every day, but I'm not normal. It's a niche, fun two-seater that I enjoyed the hell out of.
Driving A MINI Cooper S Coupe In Oman
Mini Adventures are awesome.
MINI 10 For 18 On B-Spec Racing Season
Last week marked the conclusion of a highly successful season for MINI in the 2012 Grand AM Total Performance Showcase (B-Spec) championship, with the private MINI teams scoring an impressive tally of three wins in the six-race series. The competing MINIs also powered their way to claim four pole positions, and out of the possible 18 podium finishes, 10 were claimed by MINI drivers.
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Perfect Car To Take "MINI-break From Reality"
Practical it really isn't -- for most people -- but for the bright young things who don't need a family hatch or a mundane saloon it offers a sense of what a good life could be like. Lucky things. Ah well, back to reality for the rest of us. Put on the kettle there and we'll have a nice cup of tea. Now there's something I can never get enough of.
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